Match Preview: Sunderland vs Coventry City
Michael Beale will start his reign as Sunderland Head Coach on Saturday against Mark Robins’ Coventry City at the Stadium of Light.
Beale formerly of QPR and Rangers, has taken over from Tony Mowbray in the Sunderland dugout after being appointed on Monday afternoon.
Mike Dodds, who took charge of three games whilst the club were on the manager hunt, winning two and losing one, has been promoted to assistant head coach.
Having fell to a 1-0 defeat away to Bristol City last Saturday, the lads will want to bounce back, despite not having such a great record against this week’s visitors.
The Black Cats have failed to pounce in their last seven meetings with The Sky Blues drawing four and losing three including the nine-goal thriller in 2019 where Coventry won 5-4 away from home.
Last time the two sides met ended in a goalless draw at the back end of August at the Coventry Building Society Arena.
Sunderland will be looking to start life under Beale with three points and push to try get back into the play off places. The Black cats sit 7th in the league three points behind Hull City who are currently sat in the final play off position.
Despite reaching the play off final last year Coventry haven’t quite met the expectations from last year and currently sit 15th in the league table but have picked up 11 points from there last six, with the only defeat coming to second place Ipswich Town.